Be the Referee: Dive on the Floor
December 7, 2017
In this week's edition, assistant director Mark Uyl discusses some of the misunderstandings that arise when a basketball player dives for and gains possession of a loose ball.
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Dive on the Floor - Listen
In just about every single basketball game that’s played during the season, a player will hustle and dive for a loose ball that’s on the floor. As that player dives and tries to gain possession of the ball on the floor, yells from every corner of the gym come, screaming for a call of traveling.
This is one of the more misunderstood situations under basketball rules. Once that player dives for the loose ball on the floor and gains possession, there are two ways in which they’re guilty of a traveling violation: The first is if the player takes the ball and attempts to stand up; or the second, the player rolls over from their back to the front or front to back.
Other than that, that’s a legal play, and the ball remains in play.
Past editions
November 30: Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
November 23: Ejections - Listen
November 16: Toughest Call - Listen
November 9: Hurdling - Listen
November 2: The Survey Says - Listen
October 26: Helmet Comes Off - Listen
October 19: Goal Line Rules - Listen
October 12: No 1st-Year Fee - Listen
October 5: Athletic Empty Nesters - Listen
September 28: Misunderstood Football Rules: Kicking - Listen
September 21: Preparation for Officials - Listen
September 14: Always Stay Registered - Listen
September 7: Other Football Rules Changes - Listen
August 31: Pop-Up Onside Kicks - Listen
August 24: Blindside Blocks - Listen
Be the Referee: Soccer Rule Change
September 13, 2018
In this week's edition, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains a significant change in soccer regarding fouls in the penalty area.
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Soccer Rules Change - Listen
There’s a big change in soccer rules this year on plays where a defender denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity within his or her own penalty area.
The penalty has been amended depending on whether or not the referee determines that the defensive player was attempting to play the ball when committing the foul. If so, the defender will receive a yellow card rather than a red card – and a penalty kick will be awarded. This eliminates the previous double jeopardy on the play – a P-K and a red card.
Of course, in those circumstances where there was no attempt to play the ball, the defender is still disqualified. This brings the high school rule in line with college and international rules.
Past editions
September 3: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen